Segment delivering



Sept. 30, 1947. w. GIBIKBONEY SEGMENT DELIVERING 3 5heeis-Sheet l INVEN TOR. Wo/fer L. Gibb 0/7 Filed July 21, 1943 P 1947- w. L. GIBBONEY 2,428,112

SEGMENT DELIVERING Filed July 21, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 a & 22

INVENTOR.

Wa/ferLGVbboney H94 I 5 WW sept. 30,1947. ONEY 2,428,112

SEGMENT DELIVERING Filed July 21, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

Wa/fer L. G/bbone BY I Patented Sept. 30, 1947 UNITED STATES ,PATENT OFFICE SEGMENT DELIVERING Walter L. Gibboney, Denver, 0010. Application July 21, 1943, Serial No. 495,669

8 Claims. (01. 107 -21) This invention relates to segmenting and wrapping apparatus adapted to progressively cut oil fractions of uniform size and shape from a mould tuting such an apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide an A further object of the invention is to provide means, in a unitary combination, for feeding frozen material, such as ice cream, progressively through sectioning and wrapping means. i

e invention is'to provide, combination, ice cream A further object of t in a compact unitary panying drawings, in which- .Figure 1 is a vertical section taken longitudin'ally and centrally through a, typical arrangement of elements constituting a preferred embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 is a frag- 55 frame members to and rising perpendicularly above the table I0 .mentary plan View, enlarged scale, taken substantially on the indi- Figure 3 is a frag:

partly in section and on an cated line 22 of Figure 1. mentary, detail section, on the same scale as Figure 2, taken on the indicated line 3-3 of Figure ;1. Figure 4 is a View of the left half of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 with movable elements of the assembly at an opposite limit of their range of actuation. Figure 5 is an elevation, on an of a pressure plate and associated ratus for the purposes specified.

In the construction of the improvement as, suitable, horishown, the numeral l0 designates a zontally-disposed bench or table Wherewith thevarious elements and assemblies of the apparatus I 2 and l 3 fixed at their lower ends block of material to be worked upon. Upper ends of the frame members l2 and I3 are preferably extended laterally of the table it! to form brackets whereon a storage shelf i4 is supported and fixed with its upper surface disposed in a horizontal plane parallel with and above that of the table ill. The shelf I4 is adapted to receive and support within convenient reach of an eperator a plurality of moulds or blocks it of the matflrial to be worked upon, and for such purpose said shelf preferably has a length greater than that of the blocks l5 and a width Such as will accommodate a number of such blocks at one timer Since the material to be treated apparatus is in frozen or semi-frozen condition, the shelf M is arranged or adapted to protect the temperature condition of the material, a cooling chamber l4 associatedwith and beneath said shelf in operative communication through an inlet I6 and outlet llwith a. system for. the circulation of ccolin'g fluid V convenient andconventional. means for such pur pose.- --Fixed to corresponding lower portions of the frame members l-2 and i3 and: supported thereby inbrid'ging relation therebetween and in spaced, parallel relation above and longitudinally of the table J; anupwardly opening', U -shaped trough IB-ispositiorid to receive and hold a block l ofthe material to he worked upon. The trough 18 has a width of opening slightly in excess of the width of: a block l 5', a=len gth in excess ofthat of such block; a heightof side'wall preferably somewhat greater wer l s 't i 'k isais 91 11 a eachend, and is: preferably formed from suitable material, such as-metalyywhieh maybe readily cleaned and sterilized which is t a good conductor ofheat, andwhiclr will not react to or with the material? comPIiSQd within, the bloclgs I 5. The trough l s m d w th. radu ll -re ng lot I -centr ndllens dina l i t rs ct n its bottom web throughou the mal'or Portion of the trough length and pre eia bly stoppi ng short .of intersection through the trough .ends, and said trough is arranged as by means of chambers or pmp r me s lfl-l sscc etsd, ithand prefe b beneath the trough bottom in operative commune nthrcn hm e and ,o tl i -2 th syst m ic lth c culationor hea d. 7 air to be heate'clto that degree d not ,of the frozen or semi-frozenmateria'l top, here a a in said trough. The circulating system repre'; sented by the lines 20 and 2! ma belserved from any suitabletsourceor supply ofheate'd fluid, and while the compartments is are illustratedas formedintegrally withithetroughbottom, it-is to be understood, that such showing is merely typical and representativegof any means suitable for leati g the temperature of the trough bottom and sidewalls through fiow of heated fluid adjacent ti Mounted for vrotation in and extending between lower portions of the frame men'ibers l 2 andi l3, parallel with and i spaced centrally beneath- Ache trough ll 8 a steep-pitch screw 22 -is operatively disposed; with one -of..., its; ends extending out.- wardly through. and beygnd the vdra ns member l21at the endof the table {0, -Botationofthe screw?" fir ssz ejls b19 5 lon itu ina ly along the trough itl, and forsuph purpose a} pres,- sure plate 23 is;loosely,and slidably fitted .within and in; obstructing relation, transversely of. the trough 18, said plate 23 being formed with a perpendioularly-related, central web 23' on its surbeing illustrated as one face adjacent the frame member l2 and in position to register with the slot l8 of said trough, through which slot a lower extension of said web is received to position and guide the plate 23 relative to the trough IS. The plate 23 is adapted to be automatically fed along and from the outer toward the inner end of the trough l8 through the agency of the screyv 22, and to be manually returned fro the inner to the outer end of said trough, for which purpose means of the type illustrated in Figure 5 are provided for selectively engaging said plate in operative relation with said screw. The means shown in Figure 5 include a handled jaw member 24 fixed at its inner jaw end to the lower end of the downward extension of theweb 23 above the screw 22 in position to extend laterally of and outwardly beyond the trough l8. The inner end of the member 24 is formed with an arcuate notch 24 adapted to conform to the curvature of and closely over-lie theupper portion of the screw .22, and a suitable hinge boss formed on said member 24 at some distance outwardly from its inner end 1 cooperates with a similar boss Ona complemen- V the member g to substantially tary handled jaw member 25 to hingedly interconnect said members 24 and 25 for relative actuation in a vertical plane with the member 25 beneath the member 24 The inner, jaw end of 25 underlies-the corresponding end of the member 24 and is formed with an arcuate notch 25 adapted to conform to the curvatureof and closely underlie the lower semen of the screw 22', said notches 24 and 25' thus cooperate mbrace sa screw, and a stud 26 is fixed within and rises radially from the notch 25' to engage within the thread notch or groove of the screw 22 when the handle portions of the members 24 and 25 are urged apart;

" as by means of a spring 21 engaging for suchpuigpose therebetween. With the arrangement shown, it is apparent that separation of the handled portions of the members 24 and 25 operates to engage the stud 2t with the thread of the screw 22, so-that rotation ofsaid screw in the proper direction will feed the entire assembly, in-

cluding the ,plate 23, longitudinally alon the i ih m mbers 2 and .15 wrapped and dr n together a a the re ate,Qf thas rin 2 the 25 is retracted fr r its engagement wit the screw 22 and the assembly may then be, man; ually moved in either directionlongitudinally of the trough; releasepf the handleportion's .Of the members 24 and 2. vservingtoagain establish auto atic feeding relation between the screw '22 nd riatefi- J c urnaled for r"otation,, in and 1 extending through intermediate portions, 7 of the 4 frame i ilfieand s i hat hen e ha dl p rt s members 12 and i3, a shaft-2t is m ounted between the screw 22. A concentric theshelf l 4 and trough B in alignment with and pa ed hera l lism rath Screw 22, andth d p i .s i il bs t 'mie in 'u r b y nd the frame member l2 istfixedin andrcarrie'sna beltpulleyjfl, or equivalent means, whereby said the outer face of the gear 32 formed 'as aseries of ratchet teethfi l', in this linear travel of the plate 23 along its trough I8 for each complete revolution of the pulley 29 and the shaft 28 somewhat greater than the distance between said shaft and the bottom of the trough l 8, and said knife is disposedfor rotation through an orbit closely adjacent the inner end of the trough l8. As will be apparent, the knife is arranged to rotate with and at the same speed as the pulley 29, and the angular relation between the cutting edge of said knife and the position of the crank pin 3'! is such as to sweep the cutting edge of said knife across the inner end of the trough l8 when the arm 35 is moving downwardly in ratcheting relation of its detent relative to the ratchet teeth 34, which arrangement provides for cutting engagement of said knifewith a block l5 while the screw 22 is at rest and the block 15 consequently not in motion, while actuation of said screw is had for feeding of the block l5 along the trough I8 while said knife traverses that portion of its orbit wherein it is out of cutting relation with said blck.-

To limit travel finger 40 disposed for engagement, when said nected in controlling relation with the circuit serving the motor which actuates the pulley 29.

The apparatus thus far described is a complete segmenting or fractionin device and is operable to successively receive the blocks 15, intermittently feed said blocks uniform distances along the trough l8, and automatically sever fractions of uniform size from said blocks. blocks 15 may vary somewhat in width and the trough i8 is slightly wider than said blocks, a trimming blade 43 is preferably vertically disposed in fixed relation inwardly and adjacent the end of one side wall of the trough l8, the action of said blade being to urge the oppositetrough sidewall and trim the adja- Sincethe the block l against,

5 of considerable cent side of "said blook'for the fractions of uniform length.

Fractions [5' cut from a block I5 are delivered to and slidab-ly production of block length similar to the trough l8 and fixedly supported from and. above the table I 0 in end registration and longitudinal alignment with said trough l8, the bottom of the trough 4 t being coplanar'with that of the trough H3. The adjacent ends of the trough'lt and M are spaced apart a minimum distance sufficient to provide clearance for the knife 39 as the latter revolves,

cently underlying the trough bottom and in operative communication through inlets and outlets island d1, respectively, with a system for the circulation of heated fluid, such as steam or air, to be heated to such degree as will obviate any tendencyof the fractions 5 to adhere to or stick the block i5 is intermittently fed along its trough i8, but feeding of the fractions l5 outwardly l5, and is arranged to cooperate, when at the upper limit of its range of reciprocation as shown in Figure 1, with a in" position to obstruct and divide the channel through the tray-5| so that only one of the frac- In its lowermost position the tray 5| is adapted for. end registration with a U-shaped trough 54 fixedly supported above the table It) in longitudinal alignment with the trough 46 and with its bottom surface in a plane parallel with that of the trough 44 bottom surface and at a level sufficiently lower as to permit a fraction IE to pass freely beneath the lower margin of the plate 52, as is clearly shown'in' Figure received in a U-shaped trough 44 stop plate 52 fixedly supported a tween the limits of its;;,,rangesoi, travela Anya,

arrangement. of-means. suitable to the end. desired may rberemployed. -to .operatively associate the to.merrendiculerlreiutersee ne r a i n wi h e; bettonrtoi thet pu hvfiki ;obstr n p sit on acrosasaidtrough where .it;-,1s,disposed to b8 l5,' moved along said.

e eaa d br s action;

t ay 5 btvith a s urceof power simplemeans .for. 5 5e euehabr.thes emfiQ-i s s e th ough th the ,purpose. being diagrammatically, illustrated; as, comprising a power-driven. shaft; 55;v a cam, 56, fixedly. associated -.with sa-i.d shafi'ea-..lever. 51-. mounted. -;for oscillation: through .a .vertical am andpperatively ,engagingwith said cam, bar 58; mounted, for rectilinear recip 'ocation in a horizontal plane .and connectedv for. actuation. with ,the lever. .51, and a, bell-crank 59. whereof one.. of. the ,arms operatively engages ,with: the

stemAB supporting the. tray;5 l; andthe other arm 5 associated withethe troughfidadjacent and along thelpath .trayersedby .a fraction l5 moving under zprovided *withsan .endeopening .notch disposed iorjcooperation. withsa pin carried by the slide bar 56.; Thecamitrackloithe element. 56 isso... arranged. as ,to hold .the. lever, ,51 at ,one limit oi.

itsrangeoi oscillationfor .a brief.time,.then shift mon iandrwell-known. manner.

said lever ltd-the opposite end of its rangeof oscillationand hold said lever at. suchtlimit for. .a brief time period, and subsequently ,return .said lever. to its--original position, which action. operates,

thrpugh'. the .slide ,bar ..58.-; and bell-crank 591- to.

raise landlower the .tray 5| betweenits limiting positions coplanar with; the bottoms oi the... troughs A l and 54, and,t0 .brieflylhold .saidtray. atieacha of :said limiting. positions for -.transfer. of iralctions;l5"to andifrom said tray.

Means synchronized with. the travel of. the ,tray 5 t areprovided forautomatically shifting. afrac tionul fiiifrom said tray-and. to thevtrough 54 whens thentrayMiSJat thelower lirnit oflits travel; said means 5comprising a horizontally=disposed stem; 3

60; mounted for reciprocation beneath the. trough Eidzin suitable supports tfixedly upstanding from the tablelhsaid stem being. provided with a head 1. oriplunger at its end adjacent the tray-5i so positioned asgto register for engagement against the. 40/

adj acent side of; a; fraction l5: carried by) said: tray: when in..its lowermost position; Actuation otathe stem .fiot-i-n. properly timed :relation with thertrayel oiLthetray. 51 isrconveniently. had.

through the agency of a linklfil pivoted at a point. m-be ad wi hout below theslidebar- 58 foroscillation through a vertical arc. extending past and ab-ove'..said slide; bar,. said link. operatively engaging at its uppersendzwithethe stein 1 6B: and being provided with a radiallyeopening attimes xwith apinprojecting laterally fromand. l infixedrelation. with the. slide barz58n As will be apparentirom. the showing of Figures 1 land 4',

rotation of the shaft operates throughthe means and lconnections hereinabove described foo-.

lower-the .tray..5l into coplanar relation with the... trough 54;;subsequently. project thestemlifl across the, lowered tray. for transfer of a; fraction I55- from said tray to said trough, then; retract the jaw. 62 disposed for engagement.

seriesptpairedgrollers 66,; the web 65 is automatfrom; one.;of said .rollersf or periodic registration a,slideslorw ithanegmOVe formed longitudinally of the .associated.;roller-,,surf ace, into sections of uniform length suitableeforthewrapping of a fraction l5",

anduneans, such as. movable fingers, inclined and curyedssuriaces, and ..the like, are .operatively the'rinfluence oi..the,stem 60, so that. the section and securelyifoldedrabout such fraction in a come Since the elements and. agencies operable to actuallyfold and. material about a fraction li'.

wrap the enveloping areoldin the art and in themselves form no part o:the;present. invention, any showing or specific.

elements of. .the :wrapping wrapped aboutza. fraction 15' as the latter is HIOYBfiwfI'QIHi-IIBIIEY.5l .andalong the trough 54 bysthestem. 60.; H Thewitapped. fractions I5 mayberemoved or dischargedfriomthe trough 54 in any desired or convenient-manner,collected for storage insuit able.coolers,.-orpackediin suitable containers for the wrapped units. -.pro.duced,byt the improved. apparatus being ready storage andi. transportation,

fQLmark'eting...

Since; many changes, .variations, and modifica-v tions...in;..the;specificform; construction, and ar-' angement oigtheelements. shown, and described limited solelybyithe scope of the appended claims,

showing; and foregoing description.

I rclaim, as. my invention? 1.;In apparatus. succession; of. like, and characterized. by .1 jaltitudinallyereciprocable means for individu subse'quent.i operations, means for the selective transfer: of said fractions to said delivering means, said transfer means comprising a straight,

horizontally-disposed trough adapted to slidably accommodate a succession of said fractions, an

stem fiilintoc ea relationwith-the tray-.-5l; openairiputend on said trough sized and posiand finally elevate said tray intocoplanarrela tion with the; trough 4A in pos,ition ..to, receive another charge.

The trough E lis the feed-wayoi typical wrap-, ping apparatus conventionally. and diagrammat-, ic ally represented Figures Land 4.- The .wrap.-. ping; .apparatus may be of any, desired-or suitable. specific construction; and operative. arrangement, and is; represented as including standards, 63'

rising; from the table. l on opposite sidesof thei 7 trough- 54 to'operatively support aroll 64;0f suitable wrapping material;- such as waxed or. parch-v mentgpaper; or-thelike, .wherefrom theweb 65-- extends through suitablaguideand tensioningz means andthrough a series ofipairedrollers 66:. gofs'alid iractions; means fo ogfractions to s tionedlto slidably receive the b lock fraction output, and an open' output end on said trough" in registration with saidreciprocable delivering means-at one-limit offits altitudinal range.

23:111 apparatus-autornatically productive of a continuing succession of like, uniformsize blocks of-ifrozenfand vsen'ii -frozen material and characterized..by .automatically-cyclic, altitudinally-reciprocable means forindividually delivering said seleotivetransferof said fractions to said deliveringmeans said transfer means comprising a straight,- longate, horizontally-disposed trough adapted to slidablyf accommodat description thereofilis omitted. The operating. apparatus are power drivensassby meansoffa belt 68,. or otherwise, in suitable. corr'elatiomwith the rotationofthe shaft I 55-,lto; provide'that .a severed section of the web fi5=iimdisposed in obstructing relation'across the. trough. 54;;inLlpo'sition to be. engaged by and departing from the spirit of myinvention, I'wish to. be. understood as being productive of. a. continuing uniform-size block fractionsv y delivering said fractions to Y ubsequent operations, means for the e a succession: rmoderately heating tudinal range.

3. Apparatus as set the outlet end of said said trough and feed-way respectively.

5. In apparatus of the character described having a horizontally-disposed, open-ended,

struct the passage through said tray.

7. Apparatus as set 8. Apparatus the means for transfer tray to The following references as set forth in claim 5, wherein transferring a charge from the the feed-Way includes a stem in end registration with the feed-way.

WALTER L. GIBBONEY.

REFERENCES CITED are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Number 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Wentz et a1 Feb. 7, 1871 Bracken May 22, 1923 Habrie Sept. 15, 1914 Schmerheim Feb. 7, 1933 Ruttle Jan. 5, 1926 Kuhn Feb. 15, 1921 Kuhn Mar. 18, 1924 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Nov. 29, 1930 (1 sheet dwgu 2 pp. spec.) 

